Thermostat support



Dec. 9, 1930. J. v. GIESLER THERMOSTAT SUPPORT Filed Oct. 50, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 9, 1930. J v G|EISLER 1,784,059

THERMOSTAT SUPPORT Filed Ocit. 30, 1926 3 Sheets$heet 3 70am M MAW L 7 $31; 7 ALIQWL MM Patented Dec. 9, 1930 NITED STATES [PATENT OFFICE 1 JEAN v. omsmm, or xnoxvrun, 'rnmmssnn, assrenon, BY imsma Assienm'rs,

we ran rumor: snrnon coueamr, 'IION or nnmwm or KNOXVILLE, mnnnassnn, a commrmmmos'rar surrom' Application filed October 80, 1926, Serial No; 145,348.

This invention relatesto supports for thermostats, particularly for use in thermostatically operated valve mechanism adapted to control the circulation of cooling .medium through the cooling Systems of internal com bustionv engines. The invention is capable of embodiment both in thermostatically op erated valve mechanism of the choker type wherein the opening and'closing of the valve mechanism controls the quantity of cooling mediumflowing through the system and in purpose.

thermostatically operated valve mechanism of the by-pass ty e wherein the opening and closing of the va ve mechanism controls the path of the flow.

It is an object of this invention to provide a thermostat with a combined cage and support for the thermostat which maybe formed entirely of sheet material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a thermostatically operated valvev mechanism of simple construction and composed of parts which are easy to manufacture and assemble,

Another object of this invention is to provide a thermostatically operated valve mech-- anism with a combined cage and support for the thermostat and a valve seat for the valve member which may be composed entirely of sheet material.

. Another object of. this invention is to pro-' vide a device of the character described which is light and yet strong and durable in construction, economical of material, and composed of parts which are easy to produce and assemble so as not to require the use of highly skilled labor.

Further objects of the'invention will appear as the description of the invention pro c'eeds.

The invention is capable of "receiving a.

variety of mechanical expressions one of which isshown on the accompanying drawings, butit is to be expressly understood-that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that Referring in detail to the drawings where dotted lines, and the transverse guiding and clamping element, in full lines.

.Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the surrounding ring at the valve end of the unit.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cylindrical wall of the support, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the bottom wall of the support.

In the form shown in Fig. 1, 1 is a thermostat ofany suitable construction and possessed of any suitable physical characteristics, being shown as provided with a deeply corrugated, highly flexible, expansible and collapsible, tubular metal wall, preferably of resilient metal, suitably connected at its op-' posite ends,- as 1% soldering or brazing, to a stationary end wall 2 and a movable end wall 3. The stationary end wall 2 is provided with an exteriorly threaded hub 4 which may contain the usual filling opening 5,

shown as sealed by a stopper 6 and solder 7. The movable end wall 3 is suitably provided with a valve stem 8, integral therewith or suitably attached thereto, said valve stem being threaded at its exterior end for the attachment of the valve member thereto. Interiorly of the thermostat said movable end wall- 3 is shown as provided with a'tubularf stop 10, integral therewith or suit tions 14 which are preferably of one-half the width of the intermediate ribs 13. Each of the openings 12 is preferably enlarged at one end as shown at 16 so as to reduce the width of the ribs, as shown at 17, the reduced portions 17 being connected to the bodies of said ribs by beveled or inclined portions 18 for a purpose to be described. The ribs 13, 14 are connected by strap portions 19 and 20 atopposite sides of the blank, and each of said strap portions is provided with a plurality of suitably spaced apertures 21, 22 to. receive tabs on the end members to be described, an aperture 22 being shown adjacent eachextremity of the strap portion 20.

The blank 11, as shown in Fig. 2, may then be formed into a cylindrical memberof the character shown in Fig. 5 with the ends of the blank in abutting relationship. A cage-like cylindrical lateral wall is'thereby provided which has a plurality-of ribs with interposed openings to'permitthe admission of the cooling medium to a thermostat mounted within the same.

The end of the cylindrical wall formed by the strap 19 is then assembled with an end ring or flange 23 shown in Fig. 4, and which may be readily formed from sheet metal. Said ring has an inner opening 24 of the size of the exterior periphery of the cylindrical I lateral wall when its ends are in abutted relation as shown in Fig. 5, and projecting radially inward within said opening 24 are a plurality oftabs 25 corresponding in numher to the openings 21 formed in the strap 19. The cylindrical wall may be slightly collapsed by moving its ends out of abutting relationship until the end 19 is of suflicient size to be received within the opening provided by the inner extremities of the tabs 25, said tabs may then be engaged in the apertures 21 in the cylindrical wall, and the latter may then be expanded until its ends are again in abutting relationship. In this position the cylindrical wall is securely interlocked with the ring 23 and cannot be disengaged there-fromwithout moving the ends of the cylindrical wall out of abutting engagement. If desired,

'the tabs 25 may be bent against or soldered to the cylindrical wall, and the ring may be soldered to said wall to form a fluid-tight joint. v j

The opposite end of the cylindrical wall is associated with a base member 26, of a diam= eter equal to the inside diameter of the cylin dricalwall, shown in Fig. 6, and which may also be formed of sheet metal. member is provided with a central aperture 27 of a size adapted to receive the threaded boss 4 on the stationary end wall 2 of the thermostat and with a plurality of tabs 28, corresponding in number and location to the apertures 22 in the strap20. As shown, a

Said base pair of said tabs 28 are spaced sufliciently close together to receive the two apertures 22 adjacent the two ends of the strap 20. The end of the cylindrical wall may be sufliciently enlarged to receive the end member 26, to enable the tabs 28 to be introduced into the apertures 22, and the cylindrical wall may then be contracted at its base end to again bring the ends of the cylindrical member into abutting relation. In this position the tabs 28 are preferably bent over into engagement with the cylindrical wall, as shown in Fig. 1, and may be soldered in this position, if desired. The end wall 26, therefore, prevents the opening of the cylindrical wall and rigidly secures the cylindrical wall with its ends in abutting relationship.

The combined cage and support thereby formed may be assembled with a thermostat by introducing the threaded boss 4 through the aperture 27 in the base of the combined cage and support and said thermostat is then fixedly secured to saidbase by a nut 29 threaded onto said boss 4.

A transverse member may then be introduced into the combined cage and support to further lock the parts in assembled relation and give greater rigidity to the structure, said transverse member also constituting a guide for the valve stem 8 and, if de-. sired, a stop to limit the expansion of the thermostat. Said transverse member may be of any suitable construction, but is preferably composed of a pair of sections 30 and 31,

,e xtremities of each of said sections 30 and 31 are provided with a hook-like bend 33,

the width of these hook-like ends preferably being of substantially the same dimension as the length from the beveled surfaces 18 to the strap-portion 19 in the blank of the cylindrical wall so that said sections 30 and 31 are definitely positionedby the location of the reduced portions 17 of, the ribs. Thereby displacement of the transverse member 30, 31 axially of the combined cage and support is prevented. The two sections 30, 31 may be assembled with their faces in contact to embrace the valve stem and with their extremities embracing opposed ribs of the combined cage and support, and in this position said sections may be united in any suitable way as by rivets or screws 34. Said transverse member 30, 31 is also preferably so designed that its inner face 35 acts as a stop to limit the expansive movement of the thermostat nyengaging the movable end wall 3 or a suitable projection thereon or on the valve stem 8.

The combined thermostat and support thus assembled may be provided with a valve of any suitable construction. The valve member shown in Fig. 1 is shown as composed of an annulus 36 of sheet metal-provided with a hub 37 interiorly threaded and having a be pe'ened'or riveted into engagement with the ring 36 so as to securely lock the hub 37 in the central aperture of said ring. The valve member thus provided may seat upon the extremity 39 of the lateral wall of the combined cage and support, as shown in Fig. 1, in which event the extremity of the com bined cage and support may be suitably machined or finished to constitute a valve seat, or the valve .member may be providedwith an axially extending projection or flange so as to seat upon the ring 23. Y

In assembling the parts the valve member is threaded onto the valve stem 8 until-it contacts the valve seat and a little further so as to insure that the tubular stop 10, when employed, is withdrawn from engagement with the end wall 2, and in this position the valve member is suitably locked to said stem, as by the introduction of a cotter pin 40. through a hole drilled in the hub 37 and valvefstem 8. As heretofore pointed out, the thermostat may be of any suitable construction and possessed of any suitable physical characteristics. It is preferably charged with a suitable thermosensitive fluid at a pressure below atmospheric, at normal temperature,'so that at all temperatures below that at which the thermos'tat is designed. to operate, there is an excess external pressure tending to collapse the thermostat. Therefore, if the thermostat leaks with an equalization of the internal and external pressures the valve tends to move to open position. It is to be expressly understood, however, that other types of thermostats may be employed, if desired.

It will, therefore, be perceived that a light and simple but strong and rigid thermostat support has been provided. which support receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, some of which will now readily suggest 3 themselves to those skilled in the art, while suitable skirt-like projection 38 which may may be formed entirely of elements blanked parts without departing from the spirit of this invention. 'While the novel thermostat support of the present invention is particularly adapted for use in a thermostatically operated valve mechanism, the support in its broader aspect may also be used with thermostats applle'd to other uses. Reference is therefore to be had to the claims appended hereto for a definition of said invention.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination with a thermostat, a combined cage and support for said thermostat including a lateral member formed of sheet metal and provided with alternating ribs and aper tures to form fluid-admitting openings, said lateral member being also provided with tab receiving apertures and a base member to which said thermostat is attached provided with tabssecured in said apertures and retaining said lateral member in shape.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination with a thermostat, a combined cage and support for said thermostat including a lateral member formed of sheet metal.

and provided with alternating ribs and apertures to form fluid-admitting openings, said lateral member being also provided with tab receiving apertures and a ring for mounting said cage and support provided with tabs secured in said apertures for retaining said lateral member in shape. a

3. In a device of the character described,

in combination with a thermostat, a combined cage and support" for said thermostat ,including a lateralmembefformed of sheet metal and provided with alternating ribs and apertures to form fluid-admitting openings, said lateral member being also provided with tab receiving apertures and a basemember and a ring provided with tabs secured in said apertures for retaining said lateral memher in shape, said base member being attached to said thermostat and said ring providing a member for mounting said cage and support in position.

4. In a. device of the character described, in combination with a thermostat and a valve operatively connected thereto, a combined cage. and support for said thermostat including a lateral member of sheet metal, a base member secured thereto and to which said thermostat is attached, and a ring secured adjacent the opposite end of saidlateral member, the endpf said lateral member cooperating with said valve member to form a seat therefor- 5. In a device of the character described, in combination with a thermostat, a support for said. thermostat including a lateral member bent up peripherally from sheet metal, a base member secured to said lateral member and to which said thermostat is attached, and

a transverse member secured within said lateral member and forming a brace therein.

6. In a device of the character described, in combination with a thermostat, a support for said thermostat including a lateral member bent up peripherally from sheet metal, a base member secured to said lateral member and to which said thermostat is attached, and a transverse member secured within said lateral member and composed of sections united together.

7 In a device of the character described, in combination with a thermostat and a valve stem operatively connected thereto, a support for said thermostat including a lateral member bent up peripherally from sheet metal, a base member secured .to'said lateral member and to which said thermostat 'is attached, and a transverse member secured in the lateral member and composed of sheet metal sections bent to provide a guide for said valve stem.

8. In a device of the character described,

, in combination with a thermostat, a support tained Within said member at one end and for said thermostat including a lateral member bent up peripherally from sheet metal, a

base member secured to said lateral member 10. In a device of the-character described,- in combination with a thermostat, a support for said thermostat including a lateral member bent up peripherally from sheet metal, a base member secured to said lateral member and to which said thermostat is attached, said lateral member being provided with opposed ribs, and a transverse member clamped to opposed ribs and constituting an internal brace for said lateral member.

11. A thermostat support including a lateral member bent up from sheet metal, and

means for retaining said member in cylin-' drical shape including a base member rea confining flange secured around said memher at its opposite end.

12. A thermostat support including a. lateral member bent up from sheet metal, means for retaining the same in shape including a base member having peripheral tabs en gaged in slots in one end of said memberand a confining flange having internal tabs enga ed in slots in the opposite end of said mem er.

13. A thermostat support including a lateral member bent up peripherally from sheet metal and provided with ribs reduced in width adjacent one end thereof and a transverse member connected to opposed ribs and prevented from displacement by en agement with said ribs at said regionso reduced to said lateral member.

16. A. thermostat support including a lateral member bent up peripherallyfrom sheet metal and provided with apertures and ribs intermediate the same, a transverse member secured to opposed ribs, 8. base member se-v cured in said member at one end and a flange secured to the opposite end of said member.

17. A thermostat support including a sheet metal member having its ends in abutting relation and provided with fluid admitting openings and ribs intermediate the same, a transverse member secured to opposed ribs,

and a sheet metal ring secured around one end thereof and provided with peripheral tabs secured in apertures in said lateral member.

18. A thermostat support includin a sheet metal member having its ends in a utting relation and provided with fluid admitting openings, said member being provided adjacent one end with tab receiving apertures, and a ringhaving inwardly projecting tabs secured in the apertures of said member.

19. In a device of the character described,

in combination with a thermostat, a combined cage and support for said thermostat including alateral member formed from relation, said member being provided with fluid-admitting openings and with tab receiving apertures adjacent one end thereof,

and a base member for attachment to said thermostat-having outwardly projecting tabs secured in the apertures of said lateral member.

20. In a device of the character described, in combination with a thermostat,a combined cage and support for said thermostat including'a lateral member formed from sheet metal and having its ends in abutted relation, a base secured within said lateral member, and a ring having its inner periphery provided sheet metal and having its ends in abutting ber.

with tabs secured in apertures in said lateral member and confining said lateral mem- 21.- A thermostat support including a lateral member bent up from sheet metal and provided with apertures and ribs intermediate the same, a transverse member secured to opposed ribs, and a base member provided with peripheral tabs'secured in apertures in said lateral member.

22. In a device of the character described, in combination with a thermostat and a valve stem operatively connected thereto, a support for said thermostat including a lateral mem-' ber bent around into a cylinder from a flat sheet metal blank and having alternating ribs and fluid-admitting openings, and a transverse member attached to said ribs and aiding in the retention of said lateral member in cylindrical form, said transverse member also constituting a guide for said valve stem.

23. In a device of the character described,

- in combination with a thermostat, a support for said thermostat including a lateral member bent into a cylinder from sheet metal and having alternating ribs and fluid-admitting openings, and a transverse member attached to said ribs and aiding in the retention of said lateral member in cylindrical form, said transverse member also constituting a stop for the movement of said thermostat.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

JEAN V. GIESLER. 

